THE BEER NUT: Gifts for the beer geek in your life

My first paying job was playing Santa Claus at a Dunkin Donuts when I was 16, and I gave little screaming kids small bags of Munchkins as a gift.

As a trained Santa, I’m going to help you play Santa Claus for the beer lover in your life. Sure, beer mugs are great, gift certificates are awesome and books about ales and lagers are thoughtful, but the gift all beer lovers want is beer.

Now, Santa Norm will help you decide what beers are gift-worthy brews. Here’s a six-pack of beers worthy of being wrapped and put under the tree, or in a the stocking hung with care over the fireplace.

Anchor Brewing Company’s Our Special Ale

Anchor Brewing Company has been brewing the Our Special Ale (often referred to as Anchor Christmas) for decades. Each year, the recipe is slightly different, but it is usually one of the tastiest options for winter warmers. You can get a six-pack, but a really special way is to pick up a magnum – the 1.5 liter bottle will look impressive under the tree and is a perfect size to share with friends and family.

Boston Beer Company’s Samuel Adams Utopias

This is perhaps the most unique beer in the world – it’s a still beer (no carbonation) and a blend of different vintages of beers aged in barrels dating back to 1993. It has flavors of cognac, port, wine, bourbon and maple. This year’s version comes in at 28 percent alcohol by volume. At $200, it’s a pricey gift, but one that will be appreciated.

Port Brewing Company’s Santa’s Little Helper

My beer tastes are greatly affected by the weather outside – lighter beers during warm weather and dark and heavy beers during the winter. Santa’s Little Helper is a definitely a perfect fit for a cold snowy day. This imperial stout comes in at 10.5 percent ABV, and features strong cocoa and roasted-coffee like flavors. It’s a must have.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

I don’t have many holiday traditions, but one I do have is to drink a bottle of the St. Bernadus Christmas Ale every Christmas Eve. St. Bernardus is a personal favorite brewery from Belgium and this is my favorite beer from them. A quad, the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is a big beer at 10 percent ABV. It’s spicy, yeasty and fruity and phenomenal.

The Spencer Brewery’s Holiday Trappist Ale

Brewed by the monks at Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, the Holiday Trappist Ale is one of the finest winter seasonals you’ll ever find. This is a 9 percent ABV Belgian strong dark ale with light spiciness and a warming boozy finish. This is almost a meal upon itself.

Troegs Brewing Company’s Mad Elf Grand Cru

Troegs’ Mad Elf is one of my favorite beers. Mad Elf Grand Cru is like the original on overdrive. It’s brewed with wildflower honey, lots of Balaton cherries and Demerara sugar, as well as spicy Belgian yeast. At 11 percent ABV, this is s perfect after-dinner sipper.

Norman Miller is a Daily News staff writer. Email him at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=646&start=2. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @RealBeerNut and on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut.